Descendent of the Moon

Noah's POV:

I picked Phoenix up in my arms, holding her closely as my mind wandered to the dreams I had had since I was little.

They couldn't possibly be real, I thought to myself.

Like a dog with a bone, I wouldn't rest until I knew she was calm and safe. I cradled her in the chair beside her bed until she fell into a deep sleep. 

I could feel our relationship had changed the day before, but I still felt a strong urge to be by her side.

I hadn't thought much of it, as Phoe always made me feel things I didn't understand. Maybe I chose to ignore it.

At this point, I had no idea.

It didn't take me long to get her to sleep. It never did. When it came to calming her down, she was like putty in my fingers.

Once she was sound asleep, I put her into her bed and covered her up to keep her warm.

As I lifted the blankets to her shoulders, it dawned on me that she was wearing an odd outfit. I can't remember ever seeing her in these clothes. The thought gnawed at me, and I wondered where she was all night.

My fingers twiddled on the box in my pocket. The one I thought would symbolize our future. Ironically, my lifelong best friend and girlfriend broke up with me the day I planned on asking her to marry me.

It would have been easy to storm out of the house the moment she said we were done, walk away, try to forget about her, and move on, but I needed answers.

Not to mention the undeniable urge to protect her and be near her. This woman may very well be the death of me—a death I would welcome with open arms.

A small squeak broke me from my thoughts and my gaze, which was content with looking at this beautiful woman who was no longer mine.

I looked over as Josie opened the door slowly. Her face peered in hesitantly before we locked eyes.

"Noah, we need to talk," she said softly. My gaze shifted toward her shaky hand.

I looked down at a worn-out envelope resting between her fingers.

"She is fast asleep now. Is everything okay?" I asked, walking out of the room and into the living room.

My heart felt strained when I left her side.

I know it sounds weird, but I sensed danger around her presence. It was unsettling.

The last thing I wanted to do was leave her, but this felt important.

"There are things about Phoe that you don't know. We have kept it a secret for obvious reasons, but something in this letter tells me that it was meant to be shared with you as well," Josie said, pausing to look at me before she sat down.

Gerald was already sitting down. He put his arm around Josie as they settled into the couch in front of me.

Before I could respond, Josie leaned forward and handed me the crumpled envelope I had noticed in her hand earlier.

I slowly read the letter I had recovered from the envelope. In fact, I read it at least five times. I hadn't noticed my lips parted in slight shock and realization due to things I was trying to fully connect.

"Josie and Gerald, 

Take a deep breath. This must be a lot for you to take in, but I know that you will do the right thing. Her father and I are heartbroken to leave behind the only thing we had ever wanted, but we know that you can give her something that we cannot: safety. 

We watched for several months as you tried to adopt a baby. We felt your broken hearts with each rejection. We acknowledge your simplicity and strength in living with what the grounds provide. It's simply beautiful for a human. We knew immediately that you were the right pair to raise our sweet girl.

Please read carefully, as what I have left to say is serious. 

On her 10th birthday, she will have a monumental shift in her person. Our baby girl is special. On that day, you will see just how special she is, and I ask that you not react; don't be scared. She will not hurt you, but I need you to make sure that you tell her that Nat will be expected to guide her a little bit more than usual for the first few years. She will need you more than ever in those moments. 

Lastly, her 22nd birthday might bring something into her life that she will not be able to deny. We can't say for sure what this event will do, how long it will take to transpire, or where it will take her, but we know that you will stick by her side no matter what decision she makes. Her destiny will be larger than anyone of us could predict. She will need you both to support her decisions. 

Please take care of her, the world will need her one day. 

P.S. We have sent protection her way. He will protect her, but he will not know his purpose fully until it's time. The locket in this envelope will protect her as well. I beg you; do not let her stay too far from this item. She will never know when she might need it. 

Her loving parents XOXO" 

I sat there frozen, repeatedly reading, "We have sent protection her way. He will protect her, but he will not know his purpose fully until it's time."

I look up at Josie and Gerald. They're looking at me half expectantly, half nervously.

"Am I her protection? What does that even mean?" My voice cracked. "And what happened to her on her 10th birthday?" I proceeded with confusion, although my gut felt I already knew the answer to the last question. 

Josie and Gerald look at each other. Both sighing, almost in sync with each other.

"When Phoe was 10, she became something different. We watched her painfully go through a transformation neither of us understood. She became this cute little white wolf—from human to wolf. The first time was unbearable; we thought she was dying. Nat made her do it several times that day until Phoe could easily do it. Nat is her wolf." Her dad looked at me as if waiting for me to laugh or argue but continued his speech after I stared at him blankly.

"Trust me, I know this sounds crazy, Noah, but this is true. We made sure she knew that she couldn't speak of it to anyone. She has always hidden her rare features and wolf to keep herself in the shadows. We knew that we could trust you since you were little. The way you always took care of her. I can't say you're the one they sent for protection, but it seems to present itself that way," Gerald said firmly. 

I sat in silence, absorbing the information. I leaned back, cracking my neck from side to side, trying to regain a comfortable position.

"I dreamt of a tiny white wolf several nights before her 10th birthday, and I have dreamt of her wolf ever since ... among many other things," I admit this for the first time, and it felt like such relief.

Some days, I would wake up wondering if I was going crazy or maybe even obsessed with this woman, but maybe there was more to it.

"Something feels strange about tonight. I'm not leaving her side. I will sleep in the chair beside her bed. Does Phoe know about this letter?" I knew the answer, yet I was still so irritated, knowing damn well Phoe knew nothing about this letter. 

"No, we weren't sure when we should tell her... but we will show her in the morning," Josie stated regretfully. 

I nod and get up, moving toward her room. She was still fast asleep in bed as I slinked into the chair beside her.

"You're going to be okay, Phoe," I whispered, playing with her long red hair.

The dreams I have had all these years flooded my brain while I tried to recollect them and piece them together.

My eyes narrowed at the window on the other side of the room when I heard a noise from outside her window. I got up, peeking outside, not finding anything; I sat on the bed next to Phoe, listening closely for the noise to return.